Joseph kellbe



(No Model.)

J. KELLER. COMBINED GAPODASTRO BAR AND BRIDGE FOR PIANO FORTES.

N0. 368,673. Patented Aug. 23, l887.

7% WWW 5% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH KELLER, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE KEL- LERPIANO COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

COMBINED CAPODASTRO BAR AND BRIDGE FOR PIANO-FORTES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,673, dated August23, 1887.

Application filed May 26, 1887. Serial No. 239,468. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J osnrn KELLER, a citizen of theUnited States,residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCombined Capodastro Bar and Bridgefor Piano-Fortes; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the construction of piano-fortes, and has forits object to increase the volume and improve the quality of tone of thetreble strings.

\Vith these ends in view I have devised the simple and novelconstruction, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, numbers being used toindicate the several parts.

Figure 1 is a plan View of my novel wrestplank bridge andcapodastro-bar; and Fig. 2 is a cross section, on an enlarged scale, ofa portion of the frame-work, the wrest-plank, the plate, the combinedcapodastro-bar and wrest plank bridge, and my novel support therefor.

1 denotes a portion of the frame-work of a piano, in the presentinstance an upright; 2, the wrest-plank, ordinarily made of crossedmaple veneers; 8, the metal plate, and 4 the tuning-pin. The latterpasses through a plug, 5, which is inserted in an opening in the plateand passes down into the wrest-plank.

6 denotes one of the strings, the upper end of each string beingattached to a tuning-pin.

7 denotes my novel capodastro -bar and wrest-plank bridge. This bar ismade of suitable metal, cast, and is of sufficient length, so

' that a single bar serves to support the whole of the treble-strings.The specific construction of this bar is a very important feature of myinvention.

8 denotes a longitudinal flange at the upper edge of the bar, which isprovided with open ings 9, through which the strings pass independently. This flange and its openings perform the ordinary functionsof independent agrafles, which are thus dispensed with.

10 denotes a flange or bridge at the lower edge of the bar, over whichthe strings pass. The bar is hollowed out upon its under side, leavingan opening, 11, beneath it, so that it rests only upon the edges 12.

13 denotes a slot in the plate slightlylonger than the entire length ofthe bar. This slot is filled with end wood, 14, which is driven intight. The slot extends entirely through the plate, and the end woodrests upon the wrestplank, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The combinedcapodastro bar and bridge is thus caused to rest on wood alone, it notbeing in contact with the metal of the plate, and the edges only of thebar being in contact with the wood. The result of this construction isperfect purity in the tone of the strings and a great increase in thevolume of tone. The bar is secured in place by screws 15, which passthrough the end wood and down into the wrest-plank.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A combinedcapodastro-bar and wrestplank bridge for piano-fortes, having an openingin its under side, whereby edges 12 are formed, upon which the barrests.

2. The combination, with a wrest-plank, a metal plate having aslot, andend Wood closely filling said slot and bearing upon the wrestplank, of ametallic capodastro-bar and wrestplank bridge having an opening in itsunder side forming edges 12, which rest upon the end wood so that themetallic wrest-plank bridge is supported by wood alone.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH KELLER.

Witnesses:

A. M. WOOSTER, C. E. RUoGLEs.

